Abstract:
A magnetic display that allows for fans to display the most recent scores of athletic contests in which the fans&#39; team has most recently competed. The system has a magnetic base for attachment to a vehicle and a plurality of magnetic tiles that have numbers and indicia of relevant teams to be used with the magnetic base.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED CASE 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) to provisional application No. 62/188,577 filed on Jul. 3, 2015, and to provisional Ser. No. 62/221,810 filed on Sep. 22, 2015, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    Many sports fans like to display the accomplishments of the teams they support. One way to show support is to display the most recent score of contests involving the athletic teams. Before, it was simple to have a shirt made or to buy a shirt with the scores and wear it to show support. However, there are a limited number of people that can see the shirt when the fan wears it, particularly as the fan travels from place to place, i.e., running errands. Most fans would like to be able to display the accomplishments of their teams to more people, but there are limitations on the lengths to which some fans will go. For example, some fans would not paint their cars the same colors as the team colors. Nor would they want to permanently mark on the automobiles. A temporary display would, however, be more appealing to more fans. 
         [0003]    Thus, presented herein is a magnetic display that allows for fans to display the most recent scores of athletic contests in which the fans&#39; team has most recently competed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention is directed to a system for displaying scores of an athletic contest on a vehicle that includes a magnetic base having a plurality of areas for locating athletic team information and scores, the magnetic base being of a size and configuration to be magnetically adhered to a surface of a vehicle and a plurality of magnetic tiles, the plurality of magnetic tiles comprising a first plurality of magnetic tiles having numbers thereon and a second plurality of magnetic tiles having indicia thereon corresponding to athletic teams. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the system also includes a dry-erase marker to write on at least one of the magnetic base and the plurality of magnetic tiles. 
         [0006]    In some other embodiments, the indicia on each of the second plurality of magnetic tiles having indicia thereon comprises the name or a logo of an athletic team. 
         [0007]    In another embodiment, the plurality of areas includes cut-outs to receive at least one of the plurality of magnetic tiles therein. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the present invention a system for displaying scores of an athletic contest on a vehicle includes a magnetic base having a plurality of areas for locating athletic team information and scores, the magnetic base being of a size and configuration to be magnetically adhered to a surface of a vehicle, a plurality of magnetic tiles, the plurality of magnetic tiles comprising a first plurality of magnetic tiles having numbers thereon and a second plurality of magnetic tiles having indicia thereon corresponding to athletic teams, and a dry-erase marker to write on at least one of the magnetic base and the plurality of magnetic tiles. 
         [0009]    In some embodiments, the system is directed to athletic teams that play a sport from the group of sports consisting of baseball, football, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, swimming, badminton, hockey, field hockey, softball, water polo, and rugby. 
         [0010]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a magnetic display according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  illustrates components that can be used with the first embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second embodiment of a magnetic display according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  illustrates a third embodiment of a magnetic display according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  illustrates a fourth embodiment of a magnetic display according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  illustrates a fifth embodiment of a magnetic display according to the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrates an alternative configuration of placing the magnetic tiles on the magnetic base in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of a system  10  for displaying scores of an athletic contest on a vehicle is illustrated. The system  10  has a magnetic base  12  that has a plurality of areas  14  for locating athletic team information  16  and scores  18 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the magnetic base  12  is preferably of a size and configuration that is easily adhered to a surface of a vehicle  20  and particularly the vehicle door. The magnetic base  12  is small enough to be attached to a door panel on the vehicle  20 , yet large enough to be seen while the vehicle  20  is underway. 
         [0020]    The system  10  also includes a plurality of magnetic tiles  24  that are to be used with the magnetic base  12 . See  FIG. 2 . The plurality of magnetic tiles  24  includes a first plurality of magnetic tiles  26  having numbers on the faces thereof and are used to display the score of the athletic contest. The plurality of magnetic tiles  24  also includes a second plurality of magnetic tiles  28 , each of the second plurality of magnetic tiles having an indicia  30  thereon corresponding to athletic teams. The indicia  30  corresponds to the team name, mascot, logos, etc., of the teams that would be included with the system  10 , as described in more detail below. 
         [0021]    Turning back to the magnetic base  12 , it has areas  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c ,  14   d  for the team information (from the second plurality of magnetic tiles  28 ) and the scoring information (from the first plurality of magnetic tiles  26 ). In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the preferred team (that supported by the owner of the system  10 ) is permanently printed in the upper left area  14   a  of the magnetic base  12 . Directly below the preferred team is the area  14   b  for the other team that is involved in the athletic contest. The area  14   b  may have an outline  32  to show where to attach one of the second plurality of magnetic tiles  28 , the magnetic tile having the indicia  30  of the opposing team. 
         [0022]    The magnetic base  12  is preferably a flexible magnetic panel that is suitable for automotive finishes. Thus, the magnetic base  12  will not scratch the automotive finish and can be removed and applied easily. As noted below, it is also preferable that the magnetic base  12  also has a coating that allows for the use of a dry-erase marker (the marker ink does not permanently adhere to the surface of the magnetic base  12 ). 
         [0023]    The two other areas  14   c  and  14   d  may also have outlines to illustrate where the scores for each of the teams are to be located. As noted above, a few of the first plurality of magnetic tiles  26  having numbers on the faces thereof are positioned in areas  14   c , 14   d  to display the scores. The system  10  preferably includes three sets of magnetic tiles  26  that have numbers from 0-9. Three sets of numbers from 0-9 allows for most combinations of scores. A few blank magnetic tiles  26  may also be included. 
         [0024]    The second plurality of magnetic tiles  28  having an indicia  30  thereon corresponding to athletic teams may have any appropriate number of magnetic tiles  28 . For example, if the owner of the system  10  favors a team in the Atlantic Coast Conference, there would be 14 different tiles (15 members of the ACC and one would be permanently adhered to the magnetic base  12 ). In the Southeastern Conference, there are 18 teams and thus 17 different magnetic tiles would be supplied for the system  10 . A similar system would be applicable for professional sports teams and leagues. The names of the universities (or schools), the cities, or mascots of the teams could be used as the indicia. Alternatively, a picture of the mascots or the team logo could also be used. 
         [0025]    It is also contemplated that single magnetic tiles would be available for special occasions. For example, while a supporter of an SEC team would want all of the other SEC teams, the supporter may also want the magnetic tile  28  for a team that was going to be played in a bowl game. For the professional sports, the supporter may want the magnetic tiles  28  for the playoffs and any championship games. 
         [0026]    The magnetic base  12  may also have other markings to further enhance the bragging experience. For example, the magnetic base  12  may have other indicia  30  of the preferred team, including the team colors in a band  40  around the periphery of the magnetic base  12 . However, other elements may be added to the magnetic base  12  and still fall within the present invention. 
         [0027]    Another embodiment of a system  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The system  100  also has a magnetic base  112  that has a plurality of areas  114  for locating athletic team information  116  and scores  118 . 
         [0028]    The system  100  also includes a plurality of magnetic tiles  124  that are to be used with the magnetic base  112  as with the prior embodiment. However, in this embodiment, areas  114   b ,  114   c ,  114   d  for the team information (from the second plurality of magnetic tiles  128 ) and the scoring information (from the first plurality of magnetic tiles  126 ) are cut-outs in the magnetic base  112 , rather than just marked areas as noted above. In this way, the plurality of magnetic tiles  124  are positioned within the cut-outs  114   b ,  114   c , and  114   d  and adhered directly to the vehicle on which the magnetic base  112  is adhered and presents a smooth face. As with the prior embodiment, the preferred team (that supported by the owner of the system  100 ) is permanently printed in the upper left area  114   a  of the magnetic base  112 . 
         [0029]    Another embodiment of a system  200  is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The system  200  also has a magnetic base  212  that has a plurality of areas  214  for locating athletic team information  216  and scores  218 . The system  200  also includes a plurality of magnetic tiles  228  that include the the team information. However, system  200  includes a dry-erase marker  222 , rather than a plurality of magnetic tiles that include the numbers to make the scores on the magnetic base  212 . It should be noted that the dry-erase marker  222  may also be included with the other embodiments to be used as an alternative way to display scores or with the blank tiles. 
         [0030]    Another embodiment of a system  300  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The system  300  also has a magnetic base  312  that has a plurality of areas  314  for locating athletic team information  316  and scores  318 . However, rather than having the preferred team permanently printed on the in the upper left area  314   a , the preferred team is provided as a cling-on label  342  that carries the indicia  330  of the team. While there are a plurality of magnetic tiles  328  for the other teams, those too could be cling-on labels  342 . While there are a plurality of magnetic tiles  326  for the numbers, those too could be provided as cling-on labels  342 . In the event that the team and scoring information is provided by cling-on labels, then the plurality of areas  314  would not be openings as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , but the magnetic base  312  would be a solid magnetic base  312  with outlines  332  to locate the cling-on labels. 
         [0031]    Another embodiment of a system  400  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6-8 . In this embodiment, the magnetic base  412  has areas  414   a ,  414   b ,  414   c , and  414   d  for the team information (from the second plurality of magnetic tiles  428 ) and the scoring information (from the first plurality of magnetic tiles  426 ). In this embodiment, there is no preferred team and the plurality of magnetic tiles  424  are used in all four areas  414   a ,  414   b ,  414   c , and  414   d . Alternatively, cling-on labels rather than the magnetic tiles can be used as well, since the magnetic base  412  is illustrated with outlines  432  to indicate the positions of the teams and the scores. If the plurality of magnetic tiles  424  are used exclusively with the magnetic base  412 , then the areas  414   a ,  414   b ,  414   c , and  414   d  could also be cut outs. One of the advantages of the system  400  is to allow the user more freedom in where to place the the plurality of magnetic tiles  424 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the teams could be along the top of the magnetic base  412 , or they could be down the side as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0032]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.